Thursday, January 11, 2018

Where Is Your Bookmark? (The Woman in the Window and Best & Worst of 2017)

I am in the middle of reading The Woman in the Window, as I race to finish it for the final day of the Strict portion of the COYER Winter Switch challenge. I think I will make it. It seems to have a lot of positive buzz around it, and I have to admit I am enjoying it quite a bit. It has  Girl on the Train sort of feel, but is different enough to make it something else entirely.


What did she see? It’s been ten long months since Anna Fox last left her home. Ten months during which she has haunted the rooms of her old New York house like a ghost, lost in her memories, too terrified to step outside.

Anna’s lifeline to the real world is her window, where she sits day after day, watching her neighbours. When the Russells move in, Anna is instantly drawn to them. A picture-perfect family of three, they are an echo of the life that was once hers.

But one evening, a frenzied scream rips across the silence, and Anna witnesses something no one was supposed to see. Now she must do everything she can to uncover the truth about what really happened. But even if she does, will anyone believe her? And can she even trust herself? [Goodreads Summary]


A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the wonderful Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

Her husband's almost home. He'll catch her this time.


My thoughts: What will he catch her doing? Who is he? Who is she? All of these questions came to mind when I read the opening paragraph. I was hooked immediately.



A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

I too am a PhD. I too can be ruthlessly logical. 
Next move.  [56%]


My thoughts: Sounds like the ante has just been upped. Game on.


What do you think? Does this sound like something you would be interested in reading? 

*

Everyone has a favorite and then we also have something we dislike. Like a coin, there are two sides to every question. Each week, Carrie at The Butterfly Reads and Laura from Blue Eye Books ask participants to list what they like and don't like about that week's topic.


This week's topic is Best/Worst Book Read in 2017

Five books earned my top rating last year and to choose a favorite of those five would be torture impossible. How do I choose between them?! I was able to narrow it down to three, which was tough enough, but I just cannot bare to pick one top favorite. All three of these books moved me immensely when I read them. You can read my reasons why in my 2017: Year in Review post.

The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Of all the books I read last year, my least favorite was A Brave New World. I even rated the David Sedaris book, Holidays on Ice,  half a point higher, and I did not care for that one either. I listened to the audio version of Aldous Huxley's novel, narrated by Michael York, after being unable to read a print copy despite multiple efforts. At least this time I finished it.


What was your best and worst book read in 2017?


© 2018, Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

44 comments:

  1. I'm currently reading The Woman in the Window and though I've not read the exciting part yet, I've to say the foreboding feeling is strongly there.

    The Hate U Give is one of the books I'm hoping I'll read this year. Just hope my mind won't get sidetracked by those new releases, ha.

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    1. Melody - I hope you enjoy The Woman in the Window, Melody. I really enjoyed it. I hope you get to The Hate U Give as well! I know though how distracting new books can be. :-) Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. THUG was excellent! I was so close to picking it this week too.

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    1. Lauren - I agree! It was such a good book. Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. I've got to get to The Woman in the Window soon - I feel like I"m the only person who hasn't read it.

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    1. Kathy - I hope you are able to get to it soon! It is one of those you want to read before everyone says too much about it.

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  4. I have heard great things about The Hate U Give. I had it for last year but after reading Small Great Things which I enjoyed (hard to say love) I couldn't go for a similar racial read. My top 3 would be The Breakdown by BA Paris, Eleanor Oliphant and Small Great Things.

    The Woman in the Window is also on my list.

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    1. Marce - I would like to read The Breakdown and Eleanor Oliphant. I am not sure about Small Great Things, although I have heard good things about it. It's been ages since I read a Picoult book. I kind of burnt out on her after awhile. I hope someday you will give The Hate U Give a try. Thanks for visiting!

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  5. I'll be reading The Woman in the Window soon...I am drawn to the reclusive character with agoraphobia...and the Hitchcock feel to the story. Enjoy! Here's mine: “BEST DAY EVER”

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    1. Laurel-Rain - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks for visiting!

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  6. I plan to read THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW in the next couple of weeks. And, yes, hearing all kinds of positive things about it. We'll see. LOL

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    1. Kay - I hope you enjoy it! I really enjoyed it. Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. I've been seeing this book around a lot lately and getting more and more curious about it. This week I have A Merciful Secret by Kendra Elliot - one from my review stack. Happy reading!

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    1. Kathy - I can see why--it's so good! I hope you are enjoying your book. Thanks for visiting!

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  8. I'm alternating between Too Close to Breathe by Olivia Kiernan and No Time to Spare, essays by Ursula Le Guin.

    I WANT The Woman in the Window!

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    1. Jenclair - That would be a tough decision! I think I'm definitely ready to dive into a fantasy novel. I've been reading a lot of crime fiction as of late.

      I hope you do get to read The Woman in the Window. I'd be interested in your thoughts on it!

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  9. This sounds like my kind of book! I enjoyed both the beginning and the 56...will add to my list. Love the header and button for your blog - so darn cute! Here's my Friday meme

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    1. Maria - I hope you get a chance to read it! It's quite good! And thank you for your kind words about the header. I wish I could take credit for it, but it was all Michelle of Limbean Designs. :-) Thanks for visiting!

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  10. Happy new year! Glad you're enjoying this book. I haven't read it yet because I gave my copy to a friend to read. She just returned it today, so it's going on the top of my stack.

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    1. Catherine - Happy New Year to you as well! I am glad your friend returned it--and hope she enjoyed it. I hope you like it too! Thanks for stopping by.

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  11. I just barely finished A Gentleman in Moscow and haven't yet started a new book...so for one brief moment I'm actually between books. :)

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    1. Lark - I hope you enjoyed A Gentleman in Moscow. I keep hearing how good it is. I hope you have a great weekend!

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  12. A book I badly want to read! :-) Happy weekend!

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  13. I have heard some great things about Woman in the Window. I am wondering what her husband will catch her doing though. My daughter read Brave New World for school. I don't think she cared for it at all either.

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    1. Carole - It turns out to be a bit humorous-that particular scene anyway. I really enjoyed the book. I know Brave New World is loved my many, but it just wasn't for me. I'm glad I finally read it though.

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  14. My favorite 2 books of the year were A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles, and Close Enough to Touch, by Colleen Oakley. I didn't have a least favorite. There were about 5 or 6 that I did not finish.

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    1. Lloyd - I haven't read either of those, but I hope to. I need to track my DNF books better, but I honestly don't think I had any this past year . . . Thanks for visiting!

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  15. The blurb for The woman in the Window sounds really good and I can't wait to read your review!

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    1. Eustacia - I stayed up too late finishing it--and just loved it. Thanks for visiting!

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  16. I'm so glad to see The Handmaid's Tale up there as one of your favourite reads of 2017. A harrowing and yet good read, I also enjoyed it when I read it.

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    1. Tracy - Yes, I wish more people would read it. Thanks for visiting!

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  17. I have seen The Woman in the Window all over, it looks good. Enjoy it! I need to read The Handmaid's Tale one day.

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    1. Naida - I finished it in the wee hours last night. So good! I hope you do get a chance to read The Handmaid's Tale. It really is good. Thanks for stopping by!

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  18. The Handmaid's Tale is amazing! The first time I read it, I think I gave it 2 stars because it confused me beyond belief but after rereading it when I'm older, I think I really connected with it more than I could have when I was in middle school. Thanks for linking up, Wendy!

    Laura @BlueEyeBooks

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    1. Laura W - I really want to see The Handmaid's tale miniseries one of these days. I just loved the book. I think sometimes these classics are wasted on us in our younger years. We appreciate them so much more as adults.

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  19. The Woman in the Window looks good!

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  20. I've been hearing a lot of great reviews for The Woman in the Window. Definitely have my eye on that one. Glad you are enjoying it! I think last year only one book was a real stinker and it was a sci-fi type book I read with my mystery book group. Cool premise but just seemed very juvenile which made me think the author should have targeted it to a YA audience instead.

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    1. Iliana - I think you would like The Woman in the Window!

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  21. I knew The Hate U Give would be a lot of people's lists.

    Thanks for linking up!

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    1. Carrie - For me, it really lived up to the hype. :-) Thanks for hosting!

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  22. I've tried A Brave New World twice and didn't make it very far either time.

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    1. Stacy - I am glad I finally conquered the book, but I wish I had enjoyed it more. At least I will now what everyone is talking about now when they refer to it . . .

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